Red-tailed Hawk landing on nest, Bobst Library, NYU, New York City

Fledgling snatches meal from its sibling – July 3rd, 2018

Today was full of fun Washington Square Park fledgling Hawk antics.

Both fledglings dove toward prey on the park lawns and flew from tree to tree until Bobby delivered a meal for them on an NYU building window sill.

The pictures below highlight the more exciting activity mixed with some ‘glamour shots’ of the youngsters.

Diving toward a squirrel on a lawn:

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling diving from a tree to the ground, Washington Square Park (NYC)

It missed the squirrel and landed in one of the trees:

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing in a tree, Washington Square Park (NYC)

It’s easier to distinguish between the two fledglings now because one of them has two large tail feathers growing in whereas the other fledgling has a full set of tail feathers.

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling jumping on tree branch with wings upright, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Sitting in a tree with the nest window in the background (the window to the left with the white screen):

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling sitting on a tree branch in the distance with red NYU Bobst library building in the background, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Flying over the park square, church cross tower in the background:

Young Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying with church tower in the background, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying in bright blue sky, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling sitting on tree branch looking down, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Picking at leaf stems:

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling biting leaf stems on tree branch, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying to the ground with trees in the background, Red-tailed Hawk fledgling biting leaf stems on tree branch, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling sitting on big tree branch, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk flying through trees, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk sitting on park tree with building in the background, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying through trees with buildings in background, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Talons out, swooping down to a squirrel:

Young Red-tailed Hawk swooping above grass with talons positioned to catch squirrel, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Another miss! Off to a new tree:

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying above grass with fence in the background, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk sitting on park bench, Washington Square Park (NYC)

This man never noticed the Hawk on the bench:

Man unwittingly walking past Red-tailed Hawk fledgling sitting on park bench, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Another man walked directly toward the fledgling but didn’t notice it either because his eyes were fixed on his phone as he walked. The fledgling flew away from him and passed close by another man:

Young Red-tailed Hawk flying close to man, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Panting from the heat and activity:

Young Red-tailed Hawk fledgling panting sitting on tree, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk panting and sitting on tree, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk fledgling sitting in tree looking down, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk fledgling preening in tree with head buried in feathers, Washington Square Park (NYC)

It rested for a while before flying out of the park and east along Washington Place. I found it sitting on one of the NYU buildings:

Young Red-tailed Hawk sitting on side of NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Running along the ledge:

Young Red-tailed Hawk running on NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk leaping off NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying to Broadway buildings (NYC)

Spot the Hawk:

Young Red-tailed Hawk sitting on NYU building in distance, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing on NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk flying off NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying with NYU and city buildings all around, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Flying back in the direction of the park:

Young Red-tailed Hawk flying past NYU buildings, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Young Red-tailed Hawk sitting on city NYU buildings, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Back in the park:

Young Red-tailed Hawk fledgling sitting on tree looking intently at something in the distance, Washington Square Park (NYC)

The fledgling watched what I later discovered was Bobby delivering a pigeon meal to one of the buildings outside the eastern side of the park (NYU’s Silver Center).

A preen before flying to the meal:

Red-tailed Hawk sitting on tree scratching its face, Washington Square Park (NYC)

The fledgling with the growing-in tail feathers watched its sibling eat. It cried on and off then turned and dove toward pigeons on one of the lawns.

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling sitting on NYU buildings looking into park, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk sitting on NYU Silver Center window, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling in distance sitting on NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling jumping off NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

It missed the pigeons (I’m not sure it was really hunting or was merely practicing).  It soon flew east out of the park and along Washington Place like its sibling did earlier:

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying through park trees, Washington Square Park (NYC)

It might have been chasing after Bobby because I saw Bobby land on a building near the intersection of Washington Place and Broadway:

Adult Red-tailed Hawk flying to NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Adult Red-tailed Hawk landing on NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Bobby flew to Broadway and turned the corner, flying south along Broadway:

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing on corner of NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landed on corner of NYU building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

The fledgling flew to its sibling and watched it eat. It cried repeatedly while it watched:

Crying Red-tailed Hawk fledgling sitting on NYU Silver Center building, Washington Square Park (NYC)

It waited four minutes before moving closer:

Still begging:

Another 10 minutes passed before it inched closer and closer..

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling moving closer to sibling on NYU building terrace, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Tentative little footsteps:

Snatched!

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling taking food from sibling, Washington Square Park (NYC)

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling after taking food from sibling, Washington Square Park (NYC)

The other fledgling didn’t put up any kind of real fight. It was probably full and wasn’t too bothered its sibling wanted its own turn:

Flying back to the trees after its long meal:

Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying away from sibling on NYU Silver Center, Washington Square Park (NYC)

I didn’t notice until later that someone in the building was watching the fledgling eat as well (holding up a phone with a most perfectly apt phone cover):

It was getting awfully warm and humid so I left the park with one fledgling eating, the other peacefully digesting and resting in a tree:


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13 thoughts on “Fledgling snatches meal from its sibling – July 3rd, 2018”

    1. I have not heard what’s happened to the fledgling. I suspect by the markings of the remaining two young Hawks that our ‘missing’ bird is the first one to have fledged.

      10:14AM UPDATE! A fellow Hawk-watcher friend of mine just called me to say he saw the third fledgling hanging out with the other two a few minutes ago. Apparently the other fledgling has been mostly hanging out in the western side of the park whereas the ones I’ve been seeing have been keeping me busy in the east side.

      Reply

        1. Hi, I just got back from WSP where I saw all three fledglings! Post to come soon! That thieving Hawk had had just about enough waiting! It’s nice that its sibling was obviously not too sore about it.

          Reply

  2. I’m loving your posts. The photos are awesome. After following the hawk cam from egg to fledge it’s great to know now these beauties are faring. I especially love the squirrel sequence. Thank you for all.

    Reply

  3. Well, Roger, Today’s photos to me are about as phenomenal as I could expect. The intrigue of the siblings and their following the gestures of their parents to learn is wonderful. The sibling interaction! I just love it all and Thank you. You are talented and beyond. A great 4th of July treat.

    Reply

    1. Thank you! I was very happy to get to see them interact in that way and to then have the chance to show you guys what the fledglings were up to! I know how I’d feel if I fell in love with the Hawks and could never otherwise know what happened to the youngsters post-fledge.

      Yes, these siblings are buds and not hostile to each other on a ‘survivalist’ level at all. They seek each other’s company all the time. Speaking of 4th of July treats, I saw all three fledglings today and will post what I saw when I get home later tonight!

      Reply

  4. Thank you so much for these excellent up dates and postings. After following the cam for many weeks, I feel “attached” to these beautiful birds and I appreciate the amazing pictures and updates. Please keep them coming!!!

    Thank you so much.

    Reply

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